Method of spinning-in yarn upon interruption of the spinning process in spindleless spinning machines and device for performing said method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for spinning-in yarn into a spindleless spinning machine when, during the operation thereof, the spinning process has been interrupted due to the breakage of the main yarn thread. The device of the invention is provided with an automatic knotting mechanism which automatically feeds into a spinning nozzle an auxiliary yarn thread. The impurities in the spinning nozzle, as well as the fiber material located therein, is spun onto the auxiliary thread which is then automatically knotted to the broken-off end of the finished yarn thread by the knotting mechanism. Means are provided in the device of the invention for automatically interrupting the feeding of unfinished fibers as well as the takeup of the finished yarn thread during the knotting operation.

United States Patent [151 9 Lutovsky et al. 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54]. METHOD OF SPINNING-IN YARN UPON 3,354,627 11/1967 Cizek etal. ..57/58.89 X INTERRUPTION OF THE SPINNING 3,354,631 11/1967 Elias et a]. ..57/58.95 3,398,522 8/1968 Niederer ....57/34 x PROCESS IN SPINDLELESS SPINNING 3,455,095 7/1969 Makeham et a1. ....s7/34 MACHINES AND DEVICE FOR 3,478,504 1l/1969 Nimtz et al. ..57/34 PERFORMING SAID METHOD Inventors: Josef Lutovsky, Liberec; Vladimir Prasil,

Brno, both of Czechoslovakia Elitex-Zavodny textilniho generaini reditelstvi, Czechoslovakia Filed: Oct. 8, 1969 Appl. No.: 864,772

[73] Assignee strojirenstvi Liberec,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 10, 1968 Czechoslovakia ..7145/68 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,077,311 2/1963 Furs! ..242/35.5

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder Attorney-Arthur O. Klein [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for spinning-in yam into a spindleless spinning machine when, during the operation thereof, the spinning process has been interrupted due to the breakage of the main yarn thread. The device of the invention is provided with an automatic knotting mechanism which automatically feeds into a spinning nozzle an auxiliary yam thread. The impurities in the spinning nozzle, as well as the fiber material located therein, is spun onto the auxiliary thread which is then automatically knotted to the broken-off end of the finished yarn thread by the knotting mechanism. Means are provided in the device of the invention for automatically interrupting the feeding of unfinished fibers as well as the takeup of the finished yarn thread during the knotting operation.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2:5 aria";

PATENTED FEB 8 I972 ATTORN EY PATENTEU FEB 8 I972 snm a or 3 INVENTOR josefLufowky BY Wad/mir%%il If TTORNE Y M PATENTED FEB 81972 3,640,059

' sum 3 0F 3 \NVENTQR Josef Luzfogsk X Y VL ad/mir IraSIZ ATTORN EY METHOD OF SPINNING-IN YARN 2" t RRION OF THE SPINNING PROCESS IN SPINDLELESS SPINNING MACHINES AND DEVICE FOR P i I SAID METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for spinning-in yarn in spindleless spinning machines.

In the methods and apparatuses of spinning-in yarn in spindleless spinning machines, the yarn is wound and the end is then inserted into a spinning chamber. When yarn breakage occurs in the prior art devices, the whole spinning and winding operation of the machine has to be stopped and reset before the operation can be restarted. Such stoppage of the machine also causes the diameter of the finished yarn thread to be uneven. Furthermore, in the spindleless spinning machines of the prior art, the finished yarn thread has frequently uneven diameters because of the impurities being entrained by the yarn during the spinning process in the spinning chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for spinning-in yarn spindleless spinning machines in which the aforementioned drawbacks have been eliminated.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a method of spinning-in yarn in spindleless spinning machines wherein an auxiliary yarn thread is used for removing impurities present in the spinning nozzle of the device.

In the method of the present invention, an auxiliary yarn thread is automatically fed into the spinning means wherein it entrains impurities present therein and also wherein it is instrumental in restarting the yarn-forming process by twistingly engaging the separated yarn fibers. After the restarting of the yarn formation has sufficiently progressed in the spinning means, the auxiliary yarn thread is automatically severed from its source and the spun yarn thread is automatically knotted to the broken end of the finished yarn thread. The spinning machine is then automatically reset to its normal operation. The machine of the invention further comprises yarn thread takeup means which automatically exchange the yarn-winding spools when the wound yarn thread has reached a predetermined diameter.

The spindleless spinning machines of the invention comprise an automatic feeding mechanism for feeding processed fibrous material into the spinning means, where the yarn is spun into yarn threads which are wound onto bobbins of finished yarn thread. When the yarn thread breaks during the operation of the machine, an automatic knotting mechanism comes into play which feeds an auxiliary yarn thread into the spinning means of the machine after the feeding of fibrous yarn material has been interrupted. This auxiliary yarn thread is then severed from its source and the newly formed yarn thread is automatically knotted to the finished yarn thread, thereafter the normal operation of the spinning machine is restarted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing which forms part of this application and in which three embodiments in accordance with this invention are illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic side elevational view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic side elevational view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated a spindleless spinning machine having a main frame 1 from which there extends laterally a platform 3 for supporting cans 4 containing slivers of fibrous yam-fonning material. A second platform 6, having a support shaft 7, also laterally extends from the frame 1 above the platform 3 and is adapted to rotatably support a bobbin 8 of slivers of fibrous yarn-forming material 9. A standard 10 obliquely upwardly extends from the platform 6 and has at its upper end a support shaft 11 on which a guide roller 12 is rotatably mounted. The frame 1 further supports an angle beam 13 on which there is mounted an upwardly extending standard 14. The standard 14 rotatably supports a guide roller 15 and a feeding roller 16. Furthermore, a lever 17a is secured to a pin 17b which is pivotally supported in the standard 14. A pin extends from the free end of the lever 17a and rotatably supports the roller 17. The position of the lever 17a is controlled by means of an electric control element 31b such as, for example, an electric motor or solenoid which has only been illustrated by means of a box. This electric control element 31b urges the rollers 17 against the rollers 16 via the lever 17a. The operation of the control element 31b and its relation to the roller 17 will be described in detail hereinafter.

The angle beam 13 has a sleeve 19 through which there extends a noule 20. A fiber-separating disc 18 is rotatably mounted on the standard 14 and extends into a mating recess 21 of the nozzle 20. A platform 22 is mounted on the frame 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A pair of shafts 23 are rotatably supported on the platform 22 in suitable bearings. Each one of the shafts 23 supports a pair of driving rollers 24 which frictionally engage a nozzle member 25 in mating recesses provided therein. The driving rollers 24 are driven by means of a pulley 25b on which a driving belt 25 is mounted, which is driven by suitable electric motor means (not illustrated). A pipe 28 is rigidly mounted on the frame 1 and is operatively connected to a vacuum source (not illustrated). The pipe 28 supports and is in communication with a cylindrical member 26a through which the nozzle member 25a axially extends. The nozzle member 25a has a constricted portion 250 in which there are a plurality of openings 26. Consequently, air flows from the axial passage 27 of the nozzle member 25a through the openings 26 into the cylindrical chamber of the cylinder member 26a then through the pipe 28. The platform 22 has an opening 22a which is coaxial with the nozzle member 25a. Adjacent to this opening a pair of standards 29 extend downwardly and rotatably support a pair of drawing rollers 30. An electrical stop-motion device 31 is operatively mounted between the drawing rollers 30 and the bottom of the male member 25a in axial alignment therewith. The operation of the electrical stop-motion device 31 will be described in detail hereinafter. A second pipe 32 is mounted on the frame 1 underneath the pipe 28 and is in communication with a source of vacuum (not illustrated). While the pipe 28 serves to remove loose fiber particles, the pipe 32 is instrumental in catching the end 34 of the yarn thread in the event breakage of the yarn thread occurs. The aforedescribed portion of the apparatus of this invention will be generally referred to hereinafter as the feed mechanism.

The frame 1 also supports a takeup winding mechanism which comprises a distributing cylinder 35, rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 extending from a frame member 53 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 39 extending from the frame 1. The pin 39 also supports a pulley 38 which serves to drive the distributing cylinder 35 via a suitable belt-and-pulley drive 37. The pulley 38 is rigidly connected to a wheel 38a which is frictionally driven by a friction roller drive mechanism comprising a pair of support pins 40 and 45 respectively supporting a pair of friction rollers 46 and 41 which engage each other. A spring 47 is respectively connected at opposite ends thereof to the pins 45 and 40 thereby urging the rollers 41 and 46 to frictionally engage each other. A pair of levers 42 and 44 are respectively pivotally connected to the pins 40 and 45 and are pivotally connected to each other by means of a pin 43. One roller of the pair of friction rollers 46 and 41 is operatively connected to a nonillustrated electric motor means. A lever 42a is pivotally connected to the pin 40 at one of its ends and has a roller 42c at the other of its ends which engages a cam 42a mounted on a pin 42!: which is rotatable in the frame 1 and is operatively connected to electric motor means (not illustrated). A standard 50 is pivotally mounted on the pin 39 and supports at its upper free end a guide roller 48 on a pin 49 extending therefrom. A lever portion extends below the pin 39 from the standard 50 and has, at its lower end, a pin 51 by means of which the standard 50 is pivotally connected to a tie rod 52. The tie rod 52 is pivotally connected via a pin 52c to a lever 52a, which is in turn pivotally connected to a lever 5211:! via a pin 52b. The lever 52bd has, at its free end, a roller 60ab which slidingly engages a cam 60aa mounted on a pin 59, which is rotatable in the frame 1 and is connected to electric motor means (not illustrated). The frame member 53 is rigidly secured to a lever 53a via the pin 39. The lever 53a is pivotally connected via the pin 54 to thelever 55, which is in turn pivotally connected via the pin 56 to the lever 57, which is in turn pivotally connected via the pin 58 to the lever 57a, which has, at itsfree end, a roller 61 slidingly engaging a cam 60 mounted on the cam shaft pin 59. A braking frame member 62 having one leg for frictionally engaging the bobbin 63 of finished yarn thread and thereby quickly braking the movement thereof, is also pivotally mounted on the pin 39..1he braking frame member 62 has a leg extending therefrom, which is pivotally connected via the pin 64 to a tie rod 65, which is in turn pivotally connected via a pin 66 to a lever 67, which is in turn pivotally connected to a lever 67a, which has, on its free end, a roller'60b slidingly engaging a cam member 60a whichis mounted on the camshift pin 59. The tie rod 65 has a downwardly extending leg 65a, which is pivotally connected via the pin 191 with the core of a solenoid 190. The solenoid 190 is electrically connected by means of wire 191a to the stop-motion device 31. The solenoid 190 controls the operation of the tie rod 65 due to the pivotal connection 191 of its core member to the leg 65a of the tie rod 65. A bobbin of finished yarn thread 63 is mounted on the pin 69 which extends from a bobbin frame member 70 mounted on a pin 71, which is pivotally supported in the frame 1. The bobbin support frame member'70 is symmetrically mounted on the pin 71 and carries at its upper end an empty takeup yarn thread member 73 on a pin 72. A gearwheel 74 is rigidly connected to the pin 71 and engages a rack gear member 75 operatively supported on the frame 1 and connected by means of a tie rod 76, which is not fully shown on FIG. 1 for sake of clarity. The tie rod 76 is pivotally connected via the pin 77 to a lever 78, which is in turn pivotally connected to a lever 78a via a pin 52d. The lever 78a carries, at its free end, a roller 60d which slidingly engages a cam member 600 mounted on the camshaft pin 59. When the takeup yam thread member of the bobbin 63 is fully loaded, the bobbin support frame member 70 is pivoted 180, as will described hereinbelow, and the bobbin 63 is manually removed and placed on a conveyor belt 79 which transports itto a suitable storage area. The conveyor belt 79 is not described in detail because it is of standard construction and is supported on the frame 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As can be noted from FIG. 1, two rails 80 and 86 are supported by the frame 1. These rails 80 and 81, in turn movably support a knotting mechanism 83 via rollers 81 and 84. These rollers 81 and 84 are respectively mounted on shafts 82 and 85 which are rotatably supported on the frame of the knotting mechanism 83. A pin 100 is rotatably mounted on the frame 83 and supports a lever 101, which has, at its free end, a pin 103 on which there is mounted a bobbin of auxiliary yarn thread 102. This bobbin 102 tends to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pin 100 due to the gravitational pull exerted on it. A roller 104 is rotatably mounted about a pin 105 extending from the frame 83 and stops the pivotal movement of the bobbin 102, thereby frictionally engaging it. A friction drive mechanism mounted on the frame 83 is adapted to intermittently drive the unwinding roller 104. This friction drive mechanism comprises a friction wheel 106 which engages a cylindrical surface 107 of the unwinding roller 104. The friction wheel 106 is in turn driven by means of a camshaft 108 on which there is mounted a pulley having a belt 109 which engages a pulley 110 mounted on the pin 111 of the friction wheel 106. The unwinding roller 104 is intermittently driven by suitable electric motor means (not illustrated) which are connected to the camshaft 108. The intermittent drive of the t unwinding roller 104 can also be effected by disengaging the frictional surfaces of the wheels 106 and 107 by means not illustrated.

The frame 83 of the automatic knotting mechanism also supports a platform 112 adjacent to the, unwinding roller 104. A pair of scissor jaws are operatively mounted adjacent to the platform 112, the scissor jaw 114 being stationary and the scis sor jaw 115 being movably mounted. The scissor jaw 113 is connected to a tie rod 116 which is pivotally connected via a pin 117 to a second tie rod 1170, which is pivotally connected via a pin 119 to a third tie rod 118, which is pivotally connected via a pivot 118a to a fourth tie rod 120, which is pivotally connected via a suitable pin to a tie rod 121, which is in turn pivotally connected via a pin 122 to a tie rod 122a, on the free end of which there is mounted a roller 123. The roller 123 is adapted to cooperate with a cam disc 124 secured to the camshaft 108. Thus, by rotation of the cam disc 124, the movement of the upper scissor jaw 113 is controlled via the aforedescribed tie rod linkages.

A pair of levers 130, 131 are respectively mounted on pivots 132, 133 on the frame 83. These levers 130, 131 have air-conducting passages extending therethrough which are in communication with one or two vacuum sources (not illustrated). The operations of the levers 130, 131 will be described hereinafter. The lever is movable about its pivot 132 by means of the linkage comprising an arm rigidly secured to the lever 130 which is connected to a tierod 138 via a pin 139, which is in turn connected to a tie rod 137a via a pin 137, which is in turn connected to a lever 138 via a pin 135a. The pin 135 has, at its free end, a roller 136 which slidingly engages the cam disc 134 mounted on the cam shaft 108. The cam shaft 108 is operatively connected to electric motor means (not illustrated) and the cam disc 134 is operatively connected to electric clutch means. Thus, by the turning of the cam disc 134 via the camshaft 108, the movement of the lever 130 via the mechanical linkage hereinabove described is effected.

The lever 131 is rigidly connected to an arm 147, which in turn is connected to the tie rod via a pin 146, which is connected to a lever 145a via a pin 144, which in turn is connected to the lever 143 via a suitable pin. The lever 143 has, at its free end, a roller 142 which slidingly engages a cam disc 141 mounted on the camshaft 108. The movement of the lever 131 is thus controlled by the cam disc 141 via the aforedescribed mechanical linkage.

The frame of the knotting mechanism 83 furthermore pivotally supports automatic knotting means 155 on a curved arm 154 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 153. The automatic knotting means 155 are of a standard type and have not been described in detail. The curved arm 154 is rigidly connected to a lever 152, on the free end of which a roller 151 is rotatably mounted. The roller 151 slidinglyengages a cam disc rigidly secured to the camshaft 108. A gear wheel 156 is rotatably mounted on the automatic knotting means and engages a gear rack 158 which forms an extension of a lever 157 pivotally mounted on the frame 83 on a pin 159. The other end 160 of the lever 157 is pivotally connected to a spring 161 secured to the frame 83 of the knotting mechanism.

The spring 161 urges the gear rack 158 into engagement with the gearwheel 156. The gearwheel 156 is operatively connected to the operating portions (not illustrated) of the automatic knotting means 155 and activate the. latter when a relative movement occurs between the gearwheel 156 and the gear rack 158.

The automatic knotting means 155 are further rigidly connected via the pin 153 and the curved arm 154 to a lever 175. The lever 175 is connected to a tie rod 178 via the pin 177, which is in turn connected to a lever 180 via the pin 179. The lever 180 is pivotally connected via a pin Hill to a lever 182, on the free end of which there is mounted a roller 182a which engages a two-armed lever 182b pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 1820 extending from the frame 1. The other arm of the two-armed lever 182k is adapted to engage a roller 50c mounted at the free end of the arm 50a of the standard 50 which supports the distributing cylinder 35 and guides the finished yarn thread towards the takeup yarn thread bobbin.

A stop-motion mechanism is pivotally mounted on the pin 171 extending from the frame 1 and comprises a two-armed lever, one arm 170 of which is adapted to be engaged by the takeup yarn thread bobbin when this bobbin has reached a certain predetermined diameter. After disengagement occurs, the arm 170 is pivoted downwardly and the other arm is pivoted upwardly thereby making contact with a contact switch 172. This contact switch 172 is operatively connected via an electric control element 300 to the electric motor means (not illustrated) for activating the camshaft pin 59. By the contact of the arm of the stop-motion mechanism, the electric control element 300 causes the aforementioned electric motor means to be deenergized and thereby the motion of the camshaft pin 59 is stopped. The stopping of the motion of the camshaft pin 59 may also be effected by disengaging a single-tum clutch mechanism (not illustrated) via the electric control element 300. The stopping of the aforedescribed mechanism is effected in order to exchange the takeup yarn thread bobbin 63.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a knotting mechanism which is somewhat simpler in construction than that illustrated in FIG. 1. All the parts in FIG. 3 which are similar to those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference characters with an added prime The lower portion of the frame 1 and the appurtenant mechanisms mounted thereon have not been illustrated as they correspond to those of FIG. 1 Thus, it can be noted that the spindleless spinning machine illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a nozzle 2 rotatably mounted on a plurality of bearings 201 mounted in the sleeve 202 which is supported by the platform 13' and driven by a nonillustrated electric motor means. A bracket supporting a pin 203 is secured to the sleeve 202 and pivotally supports a two-armed lever 204. On the lower end of the lever 204 there is mounted one of a pair of rollers 30, the other roller of said pair of rollers being supported on a downwardly extending standard secured to the underside of the platform 13'. The upper arm of the two-armed lever 204 is adapted to be moved by means of a mechanical linkage operatively connected to a cam disc 205 which is secured on a camshaft 108' rotatably mounted in the frame 83 of the knotting mechanism. The mechanical linkage which connects the cam disc 205 with the upper arm of the twoarmed lever 204 comprises a lever 207 on the free end of which there is mounted a roller 206. The lever 207 is connected via a pin 153' to a lever 208a, which is in turn connected via a pin 208 to a tie rod 209, which is pivotally connected via a pin 210 to a pivotally supported lever 211. The lever 211 is pivotally supported on the frame 83 by means of a pin 212 and has a downwardly extending curved portion adapted to engage the upper arm of the two-armed lever 204. The pin 153' is supported on the frame 83'. A curved guiding platform 1 12' is supported by the frame 83 and extends along a curved path slightly below the pair of rollers 30. Near the upper end of the platform 112 there is pivotally mounted a bobbin of auxiliary yarn 102' on a pin 103' which is connected to the free end of a lever 101 pivotally mounted by means of a pin 100 on the frame 83. A pair of scissor jaws 113, 114 are operatively mounted on the frame 83'. The lower scissor jaw 114' is movable and is connected by means of a mechanical linkage system to a cam disc 1.41 mounted on the camshaft 108'. The upper surface of the platform 112' is situated immediately below the bobbin of auxiliary yarn thread 102 and the pair of withdrawing rollers 30.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a spindleless spinning machine which is also somewhat simpler in construction than that illustrated in FIG. 1. The parts in FIG. 3 which are similar to those in FIG. 1 have been designated by the same reference characters with an added double prime The lower portion of the frame 1 and the apertinent mechanisms mounted thereon have also not been illustrated in FIG. 3. Those parts of FIG. 3 which are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 2 have also been designated with the same reference characters with an added double prime The spindleless spinning machine illustrated in FIG. 3 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in having the platform 112" extend from the lower surface of the bobbin of auxiliary yarn thread 102 directly to the top of the nozzle 200" so that the auxiliary yarn 10 is directly set into the hollow nozzle 200". The operation and construction of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds substantially in every other respect to that illustrated in FIG. 2.

OPERATION The spindleless spinning machines described hereinabove operate and perform the following method:

In the spindleless spinning machine illustrated in FIG. I, raw, fibrous yarn thread-forming material may be stored in cans 4 or on bobbins 8. This material is taken up and guided over the guide rollers 12, 15 and between the pair of feeding guide rollers 16, 17. From there the fibrous material is passed to the axial passage of a nozzle 20 and is combed out by a combing-out disc 18 while passing through the nozzle 20 in a known manner. The fibrous material is separated in the nozzle 20 and is then fed into a spinning nozzle member 25a in which the actual yarn formation is effected in a known manner. The yarn is then guided over the electric stop-motion contact switch 31 between the pair of drawing rollers 30 and around the mouth of a suction tube 32 which is connected to a nonillustrated source of vacuum. Thereafter the formed yarn.

thread is guided around the guide roller 48 and around the distributing cylinder 35 which evenly distributes the finished yarn thread onto the takeup bobbin 63.

The diameter of this takeup bobbin continuously increases as the rotating bobbin winds the finished yarn thread. When a predetermined maximum diameter has been reached by the takeup bobbin 33, the mechanism for changing the bobbin bodies comes into play. The contact by the arm of the stopmotion mechanism of the contact switch 172 causes the energization of the electric motor means (not illustrated) which are operatively connected to the clutch means (not illustrated) via the electric control element 300 thereby causing a rotation of the earns 60, 60a, 62a, 60c. The cam 60a causes the braking frame member 62 to swing towards the takeup bobbin 63 due to the movement of the roller 60b, lever 67 and tie rod 65. The movement of the braking frame 62 towards the takeup bobbin 63 causes the rotational movement of the latter to stop. The cam 60 acts on the roller 61 thereby activating the lever 57, the tie rod 55, the rod 53a which causes the frame member 53 to swing in the direction of the arrow K in FlG. 1 about its pivot support pin 39. Simultaneously therewith, the guide roller 48 and the standard 50 swing in the opposite direction about the pivot pin 39. After the aforedescribed motions of the braking frame member 62 and frame member 53 have been completed, the aforementioned two members are returned to their positions illustrated in FIG. 1 due to the further rotation of the cam members 60 and 60a. The braking of the bobbin 63 is then discontinued and, due to the action of the cam 60c, which acts on the roller 60d and therethrough on the levers 78a and 78 and therethrough on the tie rod 76 which is connected to the gear rack member 75, the latter is moved so that the gear wheel 71 performs a turn in the direction of the arrow as illustrated in FIG. I. This turning movement brings about the positioning of the takeup bobbin member 73 into the former position of the fully wound takeup bobbin 63. Thus, the empty takeup bobbin member 73 is now ready to start taking up the finished yarn thread. It in only after the empty takeup bobbin 73 has been properly positioned that the frame member 53 and the standard 50 are returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The fully wound bobbin 63 is then manually removed and placed on the conveyor belt 79 which transports the bobbin to a suitable storage area. In the event the yarn thread breaks during the aforedescribed operation, the breakage is immediately detected by the stop-motion device 31 which emits an electrical pulse that is conducted via the wiring 191a to the solenoid 190 which is thereby energized and causes its core to withdraw via the pin 191 the leg 65a of the tie rod 65. This motion of the leg 650 causes thebraking leg of the braking frame member 62 to engage the yarn thread on the takeup bobbin 63 thereby bringing its rotary motion to a stop.

The pulse emitted by the stop-motion device 31 is also transmitted via the wiring 31a to the electric control element 31b which energizes an electric motor or solenoid (not illustrated) thereby swinging the pin 17b and the lever 17a rigidly connected thereto away from the guide roller 16. Since the roller 17 is rotatably supported via the pins 170 on the lever 17a, the roller 17 is also swung away from the roller 16. Consequently, the feeding of the fibrous yam-forming material stops.

The automatic knotting mechanism which is mounted on the frame 83 and is movable on the rails 86 and 80, is now moved into position to perform the knotting operation as will be described hereinbelow. The automatic knotting mechanism 83 may be used in conjunction with one or a plurality of spindleless spinning units of spinning machines. In the event the automatic knotting mechanism is to be-usecl with a plurality of spindleless spinning units of a spinning machine, the latter must be mounted in continuous relationship and alignment with respect to each other. The rails 80 and 86 are then secured to the frames 1 and plates 13 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and extend inv front of and along the entire roll of spindleless spinning machines. The knotting mechanism then is moved along the rails 80 and 86 by suitable electric motor means (not illustrated) which can .be controlled by an electrical control circuit so that the frame 83 is automatically moved in front of one of a preselected one of the units of the spindleless spinning machine.

Thereafter, the automatic knotting mechanism performs the following operation:

The camshaft 108 is activated by suitable electric motor means or clutch means (not illustrated) thereby causing the pulley l to be rotated via the belt 109. The movement of the pulley 110 produces a corresponding movement on the friction wheel 106 which is transmitted to the cylindrical surface 107 and the wheel 104. Eventually the rotational movement is thus transmitted to the bobbin 102 causing the auxiliary yarn thread 1020 to move along the top surface of the inclined platform 112 through an opening 20a in the walls of the nonle member 20. The disc 18, which continues to rotate, then is instrumental in renewing the yarn thread formation in the nozzle 20 while the auxiliary yarn thread together with the yarn fibers and impurities that have been entrained by it travels into the spinning nozzle member 25a which also continues to rotate during this operation. After a sufiicient length of auxiliary yarn thread 102a has been withdrawn from the bobbin 102, the cam disc 124 is automatically activated by electric clutch means (not illustrated) via the camshaft 108. The cam disc 124 acts on the roller 123 and thus activates the upper scissor jaw 113 via the mechanical linkage 1220, 122, 121, 120, 118a, 118, 119, 117a, 117,116 and 115 thereby causing the auxiliary yarn thread 102a to be cut The auxiliary yarn thread is of the type which will bring about an entrainment of impurities and fibrous yarn-forming material when subjected to a spinning motion in the nozzle member 25a or 200 or 200" respectively. Thus the auxiliary yarn thread will entrain the fibrous yam-forming material and will wipe the impurities from the inner surface of the spinning nozzle members due to the centrifugal force acting thereon. Just before the auxiliary yarn thread 102 is cut, the roller 17 is again swung into its fibrous yam-forming material feeding position due to activation of the electric control element 31b. Thus, the feeding of the fibrous yarn-forming material is restarted before the auxiliary yarn thread 102 is cut and thus the formation of yarn in the spinning nozzle 25a, or 200, or 200" respectively. The auxiliary yam thread 102, on the lower portion of which there has been twisted combed-out fibrous material thus forming a finished yarn thread, is initially put together with the twisted on fibrous material by the force produced via the swingable suction tube which has moved into the position 130' shown in FIG. 1 by being swung about its pivot support 133 immediately below the pair of drawing rollers 30. The swinging movement of the suction tube 130 is brought about by the activation of the electric clutch means (not illustrated) which cause the cam disc 134 to be rotated a predetermined angle via the camshaft 108 thereby bringing about the aforedescribed swinging movement of the suction tube 130 via the roller 136 and the mechanical linkage 135, a, 137a, 137, 138, 139 and 140. The end of the broken yarn thread is retained by the force generated at the suction tube 32 at the inlet end of the tube. The suction tube formed by the lever 131 is pivoted around the pin 132 is moved immediately adjacent to the suction tube 32 due to the action of the cam disc 141 on the roller 142. The cam disc 141 is rotated by the camshaft 108 which has been connected thereto by suitable electric clutch means (not illustrated). Themovement via the roller 142 is effected by the mechanical linkage 143, 135a, 144, 145, 146 and 147. After the suction tube 131 has reached a position adjacent to suction tube 32, it entrains the end of the yarn thread, due to the fact that it has a higher vacuum pressure, to the operative region of the automatic knotter 155 which has, in the meantime, been pivoted about the pivot pin 153 into its operative position immediately below the pair of drawing rollers 30. The swinging movement of the knotter 155 is effected by the movement of the cam disc 150 which acts on the roller 151 and the lever 152 thereby swinging the curved arm 154 of the automatic knotter 155 into the aforedescribed operative position. The rotation of the cam disc 150 is efiected by electric clutch means (not illustrated) which connect to the disc 150 to the camshaft 108. Simultaneously therewith, the standard 50 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 39 in order to release a sufi'rcient length of yarn so that the yarn ends may be properly knotted by the automatic knotter 155. The swinging of the standard 50 is effected by the cam 61, which is being actuated due to rotation of the cam disc 60. The cam disc 60 is rotated due to the rotation of the camshaft 59 which is connected to the cam disc 60 at this point of the operation by means of electric clutch means (not illustrated). The movement of the roller 61 is transmitted to the standard 50 via the mechanical linkage 57a, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54 and 53a. The automatic knotter 155 knots together the two ends of the yarn thread, that is, the end emanating from the bobbin 63 and the yarn thread which has been formed in the spinning nonle 25a with the aid of the auxiliary yarn thread 1020. The knotting together of these two ends of the yarn thread is effected due to the swinging motion of the automatic knotter 155 about the pivot pin 153 in a known manner. After the knotting together of the two yarn thread ends has been completed, the braking frame member 62 is swung away from the bobbin 63 so that the latter can restart winding the yarn thread. The movement away from the bobbin 63 by the braking frame member 62 is effected due to the energization of the solenoid which moves the leg 65a in a direction away from the bobbin 63. The energization of the solenoid 190 is due to the fact that impulses received by it via the wiring 191. After the braking frame member 62 has been swung away from the bobbin 63, the normal operation of the spindleless spinning machine can be restarted. The standard 50 is then reswung to its normal operating position via the aforedescribed coaction between the cam disc 60 and the mechanical linkage connecting the roller 61 to the standard 50. The rotation of the cam disc 60 is,as heretofore described, effected by the rotation of the camshaft 59 and the actuation of the electric clutch means (not illustrated). After the aforedescribed knotting operation has been completed and the machine is returned to its normal operation, several checks are automatically performed in a nonnal manner by not illustrated elements and, in the event of continued malfunction of the spindleless spinning machine, an electric indication means (not illustrated) is activated to indicate such malfunctioning and, whereupon the attendant activates electric control elements (not illustrated) to restart the aforedescribed knotting operation.

The operations of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 operate in an identical manner except for the guiding of the auxiliary yarn threads 102a and 102a" into the nozzle members 200 and 200". We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction and process illustrated and described herein, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is new and desire to be secured by Letters of Patent is as follows:

1. An arrangement in a spindleless spinning unit of a spinning machine of the character described, comprising in combination,

a spinning nozzle member rotatably mounted in said unit for producing a yarn thread out of fibrous yarn-forming material;

means mounted over said nonle member and adapted to selectively feed fibrous yam-forming material into said noule member;

yarn thread takeup means operatively mounted in said unit for taking up the yarn thread from said spinning nozzle and winding it;

means for feeding an auxiliary yarn into the spinning nozzle member upon the breakage of the yarn thread;

automatic knotting means operatively positioned in said unit between said spinning nozzle and said yarn thread takeup means, and means for seizing the end of the yarn thread nearer the takeup means and the end of the auxiliary yarn after emerging from the spinning nozzle member when the yarn thread has broken and to introduce said threads into the knotter.

2. A plurality of spindleless spinning units of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic knotting means is movably mounted so as to be movable to a preselected spinning unit of the plurality of spindleless spinning units constituting said spinning machine and to coact therewith, and means for thus moving the automatic knotting means.

3. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn feed means comprises means for storing rovings of fibrous yamfonning material, a first pair of feed rollers mounted above said spinning nozzle, and first means for guiding said rovings from said storing means to between said first pair of rollers.

4. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein one roller of said first pair of rollers is pivotally mounted in said machine, first electric control means operatively connected to said one roller of said first pair of rollers and adapted to selectively swing said one roller away from said other roller of said pair of rollers upon receiving an electric control signal.

5. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim I, wherein said yarn thread takeup means comprises a first support member pivotally mounted in said unit and being adapted to rotatably support a bobbin thereon for taking up the finished yarn thread, a first support pin mounted in said unit, a second support member pivotally mounted about said first support pin, said second support member having first friction drive means operatively mounted thereon for engaging said yarn thread and uniformly winding it around said bobbin, a third support member pivotally mounted about said first support pin and having brake means for selectively engagin said bobbin and stopping its winding movement, and gear rac means operatively connected to said first support member and adapted to rotate it through an angle of when the wound yarn thread on said bobbin has attained a predetermined diameter.

6. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 5, including first cam means rotatably mounted in said unit and operatively connected to said gear rack means and said second and third support members for selectively operating them.

7. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said automatic knotting means comprises a frame rotatably supporting a bobbin of auxiliary yarn thread, second friction drive means operatively mounted in said frame and being adapted to selectively engage said yarn thread and feed a predetermined length into said spinning nozzle, wherein the means for seizing the ends of the yearn thread and the auxiliary yarn comprises first and second suction tubes pivotally mounted in said frame, and the automatic knotter is pivotally mounted in said frame, and comprising cutting means operatively mounted on said frame for cutting said auxiliary thread, second cam means rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said automatic knotter and said cutting means, and said first and second suction tubes and said second friction drive means, and being adapted to swing said first and second suction tube and said automatic knotter into operating positions and to actuate said second friction drive means when the yarn thread breaks, thereby reforming the yarn thread in said spinning nozzle with the aid of said auxiliary yarn thread and automatically knotting together the reformed yarn thread and the broken end of that portion of said yarn thread which is wound on said yarn thread takeup means and cutting said auxiliary thread after a predetermined length has been fed to said spinning nozzle.

8. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 7, including electric yarn breakage detecting means mounted adjacent said spinning nozzle and being operatively connected to said fibrous yamforming material feed means and said yarn thread takeup means for automatically stopping the aforedescribed means when the yarn thread produced in said spinning nozzle breaks. 9. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 8, including a pair of opposite drawing rollers mounted in said unit adjacent to said electric yarn breakage detecting means and being adapted to draw the yarn thread produced by said spinning nozzle therefrom, at least one roller of said pair of drawing rollers being rotatably mounted on a lever, said lever being pivotally mounted in said unit and being adapted to be operatively pivoted by said second cam means away from the other roller of said pair of rollers after breakage of the yarn thread occurs.

10. A method of spinning yarn in a spindleless spinning unit having a spinning nozzle member and a yarn thread takeup means after yarn thread breakage has occurred therein, comprising the steps of automatically feeding an auxiliary yarn thread into the spinning nozzle member after yarn thread breakage has occurred, thereby renewing the yarn thread forming process by collecting the fibrous yarn-fomiing material,

cutting said auxiliary yarn thread after a predetermined length has been fed into the unit, and

automatically knotting the renewed yarn thread and. the

broken-off end of the finished yarn thread which is disposed operationally adjacent the yarn thread takeup means. 

1. An arrangement in a spindleless spinning unit of a spinning machine of the character described, comprising in combination, a spinning nozzle member rotatably mounted in said unit for producing a yarn thread out of fibrous yarn-forming material; means mounted over said nozzle member and adapted to selectively feed fibrous yarn-forming material into said nozzle member; yarn thread takeup means operatively mounted in said unit for taking up the yarn thread from said spinning nozzle and winding it; means for feeding an auxiliary yarn into the spinning nozzle member upon the breakage of the yarn thread; automatic knotting means operatively positioned in said unit between said spinning nozzle and said yarn thread takeup means, and means for seizing the end of the yarn thread nearer the takeup means and the end of the auxiliary yarn after emerging from the spinning nozzle member when the yarn thread has broken and to introduce said threads into the knotter.
 2. A plurality of spindleless spinning units of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said automatic knotting means is movably mounted so as to be movable to a preselected spinning unit of the plurality of spindleless spinning units constituting said spinning machine and to coact therewith, and means for thus moving the automatic knotting means.
 3. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn feed means comprises means for storing rovings of fibrous yarn-forming material, a first pair of feed rollers mounted above said spinning nozzle, and first means for guiding said rovings from said storing means to between said first pair of rollers.
 4. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein one roller of said first pair of rollers is pivotally mounted in said machine, first electric control means operatively connected to said one roller of said first pair of rollers and adapted to selectively swing said one roller away from said other roller of said pair of rollers upon receiving an electric control signal.
 5. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn thread takeup means comprises a first support member pivotally mounted in said unit and being adapted to rotatably support a bobbin thereon for taking up the finished yarn thread, a first support pin mounted in said unit, a second support member pivotally mounted about said first support pin, said second support member having first friction drive means operatively mounted thereon for engaging said yarn thread and uniformly winding it around said bobbin, a third support member pivoTally mounted about said first support pin and having brake means for selectively engaging said bobbin and stopping its winding movement, and gear rack means operatively connected to said first support member and adapted to rotate it through an angle of 180* when the wound yarn thread on said bobbin has attained a predetermined diameter.
 6. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 5, including first cam means rotatably mounted in said unit and operatively connected to said gear rack means and said second and third support members for selectively operating them.
 7. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said automatic knotting means comprises a frame rotatably supporting a bobbin of auxiliary yarn thread, second friction drive means operatively mounted in said frame and being adapted to selectively engage said yarn thread and feed a predetermined length into said spinning nozzle, wherein the means for seizing the ends of the yearn thread and the auxiliary yarn comprises first and second suction tubes pivotally mounted in said frame, and the automatic knotter is pivotally mounted in said frame, and comprising cutting means operatively mounted on said frame for cutting said auxiliary thread, second cam means rotatably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said automatic knotter and said cutting means, and said first and second suction tubes and said second friction drive means, and being adapted to swing said first and second suction tube and said automatic knotter into operating positions and to actuate said second friction drive means when the yarn thread breaks, thereby reforming the yarn thread in said spinning nozzle with the aid of said auxiliary yarn thread and automatically knotting together the reformed yarn thread and the broken end of that portion of said yarn thread which is wound on said yarn thread takeup means and cutting said auxiliary thread after a predetermined length has been fed to said spinning nozzle.
 8. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 7, including electric yarn breakage detecting means mounted adjacent said spinning nozzle and being operatively connected to said fibrous yarn-forming material feed means and said yarn thread takeup means for automatically stopping the aforedescribed means when the yarn thread produced in said spinning nozzle breaks.
 9. A spindleless spinning unit of the character described, the arrangement as set forth in claim 8, including a pair of opposite drawing rollers mounted in said unit adjacent to said electric yarn breakage detecting means and being adapted to draw the yarn thread produced by said spinning nozzle therefrom, at least one roller of said pair of drawing rollers being rotatably mounted on a lever, said lever being pivotally mounted in said unit and being adapted to be operatively pivoted by said second cam means away from the other roller of said pair of rollers after breakage of the yarn thread occurs.
 10. A method of spinning yarn in a spindleless spinning unit having a spinning nozzle member and a yarn thread takeup means after yarn thread breakage has occurred therein, comprising the steps of automatically feeding an auxiliary yarn thread into the spinning nozzle member after yarn thread breakage has occurred, thereby renewing the yarn thread forming process by collecting the fibrous yarn-forming material, cutting said auxiliary yarn thread after a predetermined length has been fed into the unit, and automatically knotting the renewed yarn thread and the broken-off end of the finished yarn thread which is disposed operationally adjacent the yarn thread takeup means. 